Do balcony planters need drainage holes?
Outdoor Use: For outdoor planters, drill strategically placed drainage holes to allow water to escape freely, especially during heavy rains. Consider elevating the planter slightly with risers or placing it on a permeable surface to enhance drainage efficiency and prevent waterlogging. If you have recycled plastic lying around, such as water or soda bottles, grocery bags, or milk and juice jugs, use them to fill the bottom of your large planter. The plastic is of more use in the base of your tall planter than in a landfill.Pros: Crushed aluminum cans (crushed so they don’t collect water) are another lightweight option that can help with drainage, and one of the cheapest way to fill planters. Using crushed aluminum cans also keeps them out of landfills.The key? Using empty soda cans! Placing cans at the bottom of a planter not only helps with drainage, but also cuts down on the amount of potting soil you’ll need to fill the pot.
Should you put rocks in the bottom of a planter box?
The only reason to put a rock in the bottom of the planter is to cover the drainage hole and keep soil from coming out when you water your plant. Having rocks on top can make it harder for the soil to dry out. And if they are porous and you don’t wash them thoroughly beforehand, they can leech out salts and minerals into the soil which isn’t good.Adding rocks can actually trap water, harm your plants’ roots, and even damage your container over time. So, what really belongs in the bottom of your planter? High-quality potting soil—nothing else.Having rocks on top can make it harder for the soil to dry out. And if they are porous and you don’t wash them thoroughly beforehand, they can leech out salts and minerals into the soil which isn’t good.Adding rocks can actually trap water, harm your plants’ roots, and even damage your container over time. So, what really belongs in the bottom of your planter? High-quality potting soil—nothing else.But according to Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, “A layer of rocks at the bottom of the pot isn’t as helpful as a lot of people think it is, and it can actually impede drainage a bit. Adding a layer of rocks makes your soil shallower—slowing drainage—when really you should aim for a taller layer of .
Should I put holes in the bottom of a planter?
Any water that pools at the bottom of a planter can allow bacteria and fungus to form and cause root rot, which can be deadly. Though every plant owner should know their individual plant’s care and watering needs, drainage holes in a planter allow any extra water to seep out. One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.Most plants require proper drainage to thrive. Though using a planter with drainage holes isn’t the only way to make sure your plant will survive, it is one of the easiest ways to ensure your plant doesn’t perish from overwatering. Overwatering is typically how most plant owners inadvertently kill their greenery.